Italy faces Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals on Monday, a matchup carrying extra significance for Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, who was born and raised in Venezuela. Cervelli, whose father immigrated from Italy, affirms his loyalty to Italy for the game. Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone has contributed to Italy's unbeaten run to the semifinals.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals feature an intriguing clash between Italy and Venezuela, presented by Capital One. Team Italy, the tournament's only remaining unbeaten squad at 5-0, advanced after an 8-6 quarterfinal victory over Puerto Rico, which aired on national television in Italy for the first time. This marks Italy's deepest run, surpassing previous quarterfinal exits, though they hold a 0-4 record against Venezuela in prior WBC meetings. Brayan Rocchio, Guardians shortstop born in Caracas, joins Italy ahead of the semifinals, adding another Venezuela connection. Manager Francisco Cervelli, born in Venezuela to a Venezuelan mother and Italian father, emphasized his commitment: “If it happens, then I’m Italian. There’s no other way. This is my job, and this is the shirt I wear.” He added post-Venezuela's win over Japan, “This is a job. It’s a huge opportunity. When they say, 'play ball,' I’ll forget everything and just play ball.” Cervelli previously played for Italy against Venezuela in 2009 and 2017, going 4-for-10 in three games. Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, the No. 6 overall 2024 Draft pick, bolstered Italy's semifinal push with a .364/.563/.727 slash line, one homer, four RBIs and five runs over four games. Caglianone exited Royals spring training after hitting three balls over 115 mph, including 120.2 mph, before joining Italy. Italy's success has sparked interest at home, with Cervelli noting family gatherings watching despite limited baseball familiarity in southern Italy.
